This week, November 21-27, Amsterdammers can pick up a free HIV self-test at various locations. In addition, you can take a free test at the GP until the end of the year.
The initiative is from the GGD of Amsterdam and the municipality and is focused on European Test Week. It requires more attention to the stigma and importance of HIV testing. Amsterdam has expressed the ambition to reduce the number of HIV infections in the city to zero by 2026.
Impede
According to the health service, this goal can be achieved if people who have contracted HIV are diagnosed in time, so as to prevent them from passing the virus on to others.
At present, 150 Amsterdammers are still infected with HIV every year. Most infections occur in men who have sex with men, transgender people, and undocumented people. According to the GGD, other well-known target groups, such as sex workers or people who inject drugs, have already succeeded in stopping HIV infections.
Stigma
The GGD has also conducted research on the stigma surrounding HIV. This would show that prejudices can lead to the fear of not being able to find a job or the fear of being left by the partner. Heterosexual men are also not tested because they think the virus only occurs between men who have sex with men.
The self-tests can be picked up at various corona vaccination points in the city. You can get tested during a consultation with your family doctor.
PrEP
The municipality has already announced that it will invest €250,000 in PrEP treatments to prevent an HIV infection over the next two years. This means that currently 200 people can receive this treatment. It won’t eliminate the waiting list for the drug at all: 1600 people are currently waiting for the drug.
